A/N: A special thank you to Kate Manoso. I don't know what I'd do without you, Babe. Love you!

Thank you Kate, Stayce and Lisa for your support, gentle persuasion and, of course, the laughs.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. They belong to J.E. I'm borrowing them for fun. I get paid nothing.

Warning: Spoilers 1-13, Smut and Language.

Steph makes a deal of her own - Epilogue

Stephanie heard the knock on her door and walked over to look through the peephole. Not recognizing the person on the other side of the door, she disengaged the deadbolt but left the security chain in place as she opened the door a couple of inches.

"Can I help you?"

"I have a delivery for a Stephanie Plum." The young man held up a pink colored box with a familiar logo on it.

Stephanie closed the door and slid the chain free, allowing her to open the door wide. She took the box and signed her name. After thanking the deliveryman, she quickly shut the door, remembering to lock it even in her excitement. She walked over and sat on the couch, placing the box on the coffee table in front of her.

With unsteady hands Stephanie lifted the lid off. Sitting on top of the pink tissue paper was a note with her name on it in what she recognized as Ranger's strong handwriting. She opened the note and read:

"Stephanie, I never took the time last night to tell you how incredibly stunning you looked in this. I promise if you wear it for me again sometime, I'll try to control myself long enough to appreciate it. I love you, too, Babe. Ranger"

Stephanie read the note three times before she set it aside. The words, "I love you, too, Babe" continuing to run through her head, she finally began to push the tissue paper aside.

There, resting on top of a beautiful blue baby doll dress, identical to the one she had worn the night before, was one long-stemmed blood red rose. Stephanie slowly brought the rose to her face, rubbing the soft petals against her skin and inhaling the flowery scent. As she let herself think about what could never be, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

To be continued…

A/N: I hope you enjoyed my story. This wasn't meant to be any type of cliffhanger. When I initially wrote it, it was supposed to be fluff and smut about Steph doing what she needed to do to get Ranger back in her bed, about taking control and making a deal of her own. And then someone I know was depressed with the ending, and so I promised to continue the story. I am working on a follow up that I hope to start posting soon.

As always, my best to all of you and those you love. Please take time to review my story. I can use all the feedback I can get.

Thank you,

Linda